‘I am not willing to do any case and I am ready for any charges’: How Kipkosgei was banned for two years for anti-doping rule violation

The AIU has banned Kenya’s Elijah Kipkosgei, banned for 2 years from 20 December 2024 by the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, for Presence of a prohibited substance (triamcinolone acetonide) is insisting he did not knowing commit an anti-doping rule violation.

Kipkosgei’s provided a urine sample last November at the China ASEAN International Marathon (a World Athletics Label Road Race) in Fangchenggang, China, which the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, Laboratory reported the presence of Triamcinolone acetonide.

The Kenyan, upon notification by the AIU categorically denied using any prohibited substance, writing via email stating: ‘I. Never. Use. It’.

Kipkosgei also told the AIU that the China-ASEAN International Marathon was his first international race, that he was shocked by the Adverse Analytical Finding and that he had no knowledge as to how Triamcinolone acetonide came to be present in the Sample, and ‘had no plan to violate the antidoping rules’.

Unsatisfied with his explanation, the AIU formally issued him with a Notice of Charge followed by a provisional suspension.

Kipkosgei wrote to the AIU at the end of December 2024 that he had not acted intentionally and that he had no knowledge of how Triamcinolone acetonide came to be present in the Sample.

‘I am not willing to do any case and I am ready for any charges,’ the athlete wrote in his email to the AIU, waiving his right to a hearing.

In another email, Kipkosgei explained how the prohibited substance may have gotten into his system.

‘I don’t usually go to hospital rather i go to chemist to self medicate, this might be where I got the banned item in my body without knowing.’

Kipkosgei has now been slammed with a two year ban and the disqualification of his results on and since 24 November 2024.